Tape-applying machine



Nov. 25, 1930.

J. P. BYRON TAPE APPLYING MACHINE Filed Aug. :51, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet. l

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Jeri-0211 23 N 1930. J. P. BYRON 1,782,563

TAPE APPLYING MACHI NE Filed Aug. 31, 1927 5 sheetswsheet. 5

Patented Nov. 25, 1930 JEROME r. BYRON, or LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY ivrnsivn Assrenmnnrrs, fro

EXCEL TAPING MACHINE co; 'OF'LYNN, MAssAcHUsnTrsn CORPORATION or g MASSACHUSETTS renal-FLYING MAofaInn Application filed Au st 31, 1927. Serial No. 216,702.

This invention relatesto a machine'ior apmaterial, such as the uppers ofshoes. v

Heretofore it'has been usual to apply ad- 5 hesive tape ofthis'character to portions of shoe uppers or the like by means of a machine having an intermittently movable presser .foot. Such armachine has tended to cause puckering or uneven application of the tape 10 dueto the lackof uniform. conditions of pressure and tape speed and tension. This type of machine has been particularly unsuited to the application of tape to curved marginal portions ofthe vamp or to-seams or the like.

The machine disclosedby the present 111- tions. This tape is provided'in rolls in which each tape layer is held rather tenaciously to the adjoining inner layer by the permanently tacky agglutinant. Thus it is necessaryto use considerable force in pulling the tape from the roll. This characteristic has interfered seriously with the satisfactory working of tape applying machines previously used.-

The present invention is designed to obviate these difficulties by providing means for drawing the tape from the roll, and yet feeding the tape to the sheetindependently of the effect of the tape tension required todraw;

it from the. tape roll.

The present invention utilizes a continuously movable pressure-roll Which is held yieldable engagement with the reinforcing tape and the sheet in order to press the tape into adhesive engagement with'the sheet un- (ler uniform conditions of pressure and speed,

while the adhesive character of the tapema-y, be utilized for holdingit tautto provide a constant tension so that the tape may be evenly fed andcontinuously applied tot-he desired portion of the sheet without puckering or wrinkling, although the elements of the machine are so arrangedthat the tension upon ing drawings. in which} transmitted to the portion of the tape which is being fedintojuzitaposition to the base sheet. In order to permit the easy and accurate application of tapeto the upper, guide elements are arrangedto engage and direct the movement of the tape :andvthe sheet material, respectively, the guide element for the former being adjustable in order to receive tapes of different sizes andthe guide element for the latter being adapted to engage the margin of the sheet althoughpermitting the passage of projecting portions thereof, such as straps.

One important aspect of the invention relates .to the arrangement of component ele ments of the machine,"including the driving mechanism, the control mechanism and the means forpermitting the insertion and removal of material, so that application of the tape may be made in the most rapid and convenient manner by the'operator of the ma chine, thereby reducing fatigue and facili- Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE the tape as is drawn from theroll not plying adhesive reinforcing tape to sheets of ta-ting production. Afurther aspect of the invention concerns the provision of means for applylngrelnforclng tape to an upstand mg r b, such as 1s formed by a seam between two sheet portions, for example, ;the conventional back seam oftheordinary shoe upper.

Theabove and further objectsand ad- V vantageous features of thejinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the subjoined, description and claims in conjunction with the Fig. 1 is a front elevatibfi View bf 1a pory.

tion, of the, improved tape applying machine; I

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2- 2 of Fig.' 1; Fig. 3 is a section on line33 of Fig. 1;

Fig; 4 is a rear elevational view of the same; V

r Fig. 5 is an end viewofa portion of the mach ne;

to'seams or the like; and r v a a Fig. 8 is a sectionalvview offone form of tapeguide taken on line 88 of Fig.6.

accompany- (ill A machine of the type exemplified in the accompanying drawings preferably comprises a frame, designated in general by the numeral 1 which may be mounted upon a suitable table or bench 22. One end. of frame 1 preferably supports a train of gears designated generally by the numeral 2. This gear train is driven from any suitable source of power, such as an electric motor, by a belt 3 passing over a pulley 4. The latter is provided with a weighted rim 5 which not only comprises a flywheel, but also forms a hand wheel to permit manual movement of the gear train in order to permit accurate adjustment of the machine for the insertion of new Work or for any other desired purpose. Mounted upon frame 1 is the transverse shaft 7 which is rotated by the gear 8 forming one of the elements of the train 2. Supported upon the opposite overhanging end portion of the shaft 7 is a roll 10 for receiving and feeding adhesive tape.

The upper roll support 12 is pivotally mounted upon the frame 1. This support comprises a laterally extending member enclosing and supporting a rotatable shaft 13 and has a depending extension 14 which is provided with a pivot 16 engaging an upstanding portion 17 of frame 1 adjoining gear train 2. The intermediate portion of roll support 12 is provided with the depending flanges which are adapted to engage the upstanding box-like guide member 18 upon frame 1; thus the member 12 may pivot in a vertical plane, but is substantially prevented from horizontal movement in relation to frame member 1. Shaft 13 is provided with a gear 19 in loosely meshed engagement with gear 8 upon shaft 7, the arrangement of these gears permitting the limited swinging movement of member 12 in relation to the remainder of the machine, as indicated by the dash lines of Fig. 4. he overhanging end of shaft 13 carries a press roll 20 located above the roll 10 and preferably somewhat narrower in width and smaller) in diameterthan the same (Figs. 4 and 5 One of the d pending flanges 15 upon member 13 is secured to a rod 21. The latter carries a collar 23 and an adjusting nut 26 screwed upon its end. The lower end of spring is engaged by this adjusting nut while its upper end is engaged by a lug 29 that projects from frame 1 and has an opening to permit movement of rod 22 there through. Interposed between collar 23 and lug 29 is the end of rocker arm 30, the mid portion of which is pivotally mounted on stud 31 that projects from frame 1, and the end portion of which engages a control link 32 that extends downwardly to any suitable treadle or controlling element (not shown). Thus spring 25 normally urges nut 26 and rod 21 downwardly thus cooperating with the weight of support 12 and the related parts in tending yieldably to hold rollers 10 and 20 in juxtaposition. Rock arm 30 and link 32 are arranged so that downward movement of the latter causes the member 12 to be swung upwardly to the dash line position of Fig. 4, due to the engagement of arm 30 against collar 23, the gears 8 and 19 limiting this movement.

Mounted upon framel is a detachable bed plate or table 37 preferably disposed in a plane which is substantially tangent to both roll 10 and roll 20. An opening 38 in the intermediate portion of plate 37 permits the rolls to contact or to engage the tape and sheet material.

A suitable braid guide designated in general by numeral 40 is also adj ustably mounted upon frame 1 (Figs. 2 and 6). This guide preferably is provided with a downwardly extending support portion 41 provided with slots 42 through which fastenings i3 extend to clamp the guide member in the desired adjusted position. As shown, the curvature of guide element 40 preferably is designed closely to parallel the periphery of the tape feed roll 10. The body portion of the guide member comprises a curved metal strip 44 provided with a rabbet 45 adapted to receive the reinforcing tape. Adjustably mounted upon member 14: is the plate 46 having a depending flange 4?, the arrangement of the plate and the flange (:0- operating with rabbet d5 to provide a curved passage to direct the tape into proper relation to the substantially superimposed rolls 10 and 20. Adjustment of member 46 laterally, as permitted by screws 49 and slots 50, permits variation in the width of the tape receiving portion of member 40.

Adjoining the uxtaposed portions of rolls 10 and 20 is a yieldably mounted sheet rctaining element carrying a sun ll roller 35 with its axis parallel to the axes of rolls 10 and 20. Preferably this element is supported from a laterally adjustalde ljiraclaet (31 which is secured to member 12. The retaining means is provided with a spring 62 which tends to press roller 65 downwardly into engagement with. the portion of roll 10 which extends inwardly beyond roll 20. due to the greater width of the former.

Located adjoining rolls l0 and 20 is the shaft upon which mounted during operation of the machii: a roll of adhesively coated tape, designs ed bynumerai 71. Pr 5 erably this tape is coated with pernmnenirv plastic adhesive which remains tacky if '3 an indefinite period. under ordinary conditions of ten'iperature and moisture. The axis of this roll preferably is parallel. to the axis of roll 10 and is arranged su initially on a level with the lowermost poniou of that roll so that a run of tape extends from the adhesively coated roll in a direction that intersects that rollandis substantially tangential torolllO at its lowermost point. It i desired a rod 81 may be located adjoining a roll? 1 to aid in definingthe position of the tape run SO, although it is feasible to depend upon the adhesive engagement of the accurately to position the tape in a lateraldirection, thence thetape is directed upwardly through opening 38 to a position above plate 37.. Sheet material, such as the upper of a shoe to which the reinforcing tape is to be applied, is fed above plate 37, and if the tape is to be applied to the margin of the a sheet material, this margin is held against the retaining roll65, thus the tape and sheet member are accurately held in alignment and the yieldable engagement of. rolls and serves to {pressthe tape into firm adhesive engagement with the shoeupper or the like. The use of a smaller and narrower'upper roll permits the convenient movement or manipulation of the sheet member so that the tape be applied to the curved edge of a member of this character, the smaller area of contact resulting from this arrangement permitting the easier turningot the sheet. The yieldable mounting of roller permits its upward movement so that projecting straps and the like may pass by the retaiir ing member without interference with'the normal operation of the machineu l In the operation of a machine of this character, downward movement of link 32, due to the action ofthe foot of. the operator or [the like, serves toraise roller 20 out of eninterposed between the rolls.

gagement with roller 10, so that a sheet member such as a'vamp,-or shoe upper may be Meantime the uniform tension as it is wrapped around the i V knurled portion otthe lowerroll 10. The frictional engagement of the tape with the roughened periphery of this roll serves to draw it from the tape roll 71, thus overcomin g the tenacious adhesive engagement of the layer; The feeding of the tapefromthe p'eriphery of roll 10 through guide member 40 to the point where it is again engaged by the portion of roll 10 which is closest to roll 20 results in the application of the tape to the base sheet while it is substantially free from tension, so that the tape and sheet are brought together, under similar uniform con- V ditions.

When tape has thus been applied to the desired portion of the sheet, the machine may be stopped, the rolls l0 and 20 separated, and

thetape cut so that the succeeding sheet may then be inserted inth'e machine and the operation'repeated by engaging thesucceeding sheet with the end portion of the tape between the rolls and again starting the machine. 1 I v Vfhile this invention is particularlyapplicable to use in conjunction with adhesive tape of the type having a permanentlytacky agglutinant, it is also adaptable for use With tape of other types, for example tapehaving an adhesive'coating which requires heating before it is applied to the base sheet or the shoe upper. For this purpose, it may be desirable to provide the cover 46 of guide member 40 with a heating element such as an electrical resistance factor 90in order-to soiten the a-gglutinant and to renderthe same 7 properly adhesive for application to the base a sheet 8). A machine having a heating element of this type may thus be used with either tape having a permanently tacky coating or with tape which requires heating beforeit can be adhesively united with the base sheet.

Fin. 7 shows a form of the invention which outer tape layerwithl the adjoining tape rious forms of rolls are readily interchangeable to suit the particular work in hand and that rolls 110, 120 are as desirable and useful in combination with the rest of the machine as the plain rolls illustrated therewith.

When rolls 120 and 110 are used, the yieldable mounting of retaining member will permit it to ride over the surface of the interposed sheet, as shown in Fig. 7, while th table 37 may be removed if desired.

It is evident that I have provided amachine adapted to feed and apply adhesive reinforcing tape accurately and evenly to any desired portion of a sheet, whether a straight or curved margin, or an intermediate seam.

hile this machine is particularly suited to the application of reinforcing material to shoe uppers, I am using the term sheet in the foregoing specification and in the following claims in order to indicate any suitable leather fabric or the like to which reinforcing tape of this character might be advantageously applied.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, a pair of substantially superimposed rolls, said rolls being yieldably urged toward each other, the lower roll having a roughened surface more firmly to engage tape, means for rotating the rolls, and guide means arranged to receive a tape run wrapped about the lower roll and to feed tape substantially free of tension between the rolls and to permit the movement of a sheet between the same, whereby the tape and sheet may be pressed together between the rolls and may be moved at the same speed.

2. In a machine of the class described, a pair of juxtaposed rolls, means yieldably urging the rolls toward each other, means for rotating the rolls and guide means arranged to feed tape between the rolls and to permit the movement of a sheet between the same, said guide means comprising a curved member shaped to receive the tape and to guide it along a curved path substantially paralleling the curvature of one of said rolls, and a heating factor in said member.

8. In a machine of the class described, a pair of juxtaposed rolls, said rolls being yieldably urged toward each other, means for rotating the rolls, and guide means arranged to teed tape between the rolls and to permit the movement of a sheet between the same, said guide means comprising a curved member shaped to receive the tape and to guide. it along a curved path substantially parallel ing the curvature of one of said rolls, the tape receiving portion of the curved guide member being adjustable in width.

4. In a machine of the class described, a pair of juxtaposed rolls, means yieldably urging the rolls toward. each other, means for rotating the rolls, and means adjacent the juxtaposed portions of the rolls for preventing the sheet from moving in a direction parallel to the axes of the rolls, said means comprising a yieldably retained member adapted normally to engage a margin of the sheet but yieldably to move to permit the passing of projections upon the sheet.

In a. machine of the class described, a pair oi juxtaposed rolls, said rolls being yieldably urged toward each other, means for rotating therolls, and guide means arranged to teed tape into the space between the rolls and to permit the movement of a sheet between the same, and means adjacent the juxtaposed portions of the rolls for preventing work from moving in a direction parallel to the a cs of the rolls, said. means comprising a yieldably retained roller designed normally to engage a margin of the sheet but yieldably to move to permit the passing of projections upon the sheet, said roller having its arranged substantially parallel to the axes of the juxtaposed rolls.

6. In a machine of the class described, a pair of juxtaposed rolls, means yieldably urging the rolls toward each other, means for rotating the rolls, and guide means arranged to "feed tape between the rolls and to permit the movement of a sheet between the same, and a detachably mounted, fiat supporting surface with an opening to receive the adjoining portions of the juxtaposed rolls, whereby the tape and sheet may be pressed together between the rolls and be moved at the same speed.

7. In machine of the class described, a pair 01": juxtaposed rolls, means yieldably urging the rolls toward each other, one of said rolls having a peripheral rib, the other roll having a complementary peripheral groove whereby tape may be pressed upon an upstanding seam, and guide means arranged to feed tape between the rolls and to permit the movement of a sheet between the same whereby the tape and sheet may be gripped between the rolls to be moved at the same speed.

8. In a machine of the class described, a pair of juxtaposed rolls, said rolls being yieldably urged toward each other, meshed gears for driving the gears, guide means arranged to feed tape into the space between the rolls and to permit the movement of a sheet between the same, and control means operable by the operator of the machine for moving the juxtaposed rolls apart to permit the insertion or removal of work, said means comprising a swinging member upon which one of the rolls is mounted, said meshed gears being normally arranged in loose engagement to permit the rolls to move apart and to limit said movement.

9. In a machine of the class described, a pair of juxtaposed rolls, a tape support positioned to supply a run of tape to a periph eral portion of one of said rolls that remote from the bite of the rolls, means to receive the tape from said peripheral portion of the roll j and to hold the tape run out of contact with i i i a peripheral portion of that rollbetween the first-named portion and the portion which juxtaposed to the otherroll, whereby tape may be fed between the rolls substantially free from tension. j a V j 10. In a machine of the class'described, a pair of juxtaposed rolls, means yieldablyurga ing the rolls toward each other, means for rotating the rolls, a support for a rollof tape i which as an adhesively coated surface upon the inner face of each ofits layers binding it j j tothe outerface of the adjoining layer,vsaid support being positioned :in relation to one of the juxtaposed rolls to supply a run from the tape roll to the peripheral portion of that roll, said peripheral portion being remote from the bite of the aforesaid rolls, a guide member adjoining the bite of the rolls and arranged to receive the tape run from the aforesaid peripheral portion and to hold the same out of contact with the rolls as it passes to the bite thereof, wherebythe tape and a sheet may be gripped between the rolls and be moved atjthe same speed without the adhesiveengagementof the layers of tape in the'tape roll imposing excessive tension upon the tape as it, is applied to the sheet.

11. Ajmachine of the class yieldably urging thevrolls toward each other, means for rotating the rolls, a support for a roll of tape having its concentric layers held in adhesive engagement with each other, said support being arranged to position the axis of the taperoll'at one side of a plane conroll of the same that ismounted upon the support, said support and idler member being so disposed in relation to the juxtaposed rolls as to supply .thetape run into frictional engagement with a considerable peripheral portion of one of the rolls which portion is remote fromthe bite of the rolls, and a guide;

member to receive the tape run from the".

peripheral portion of 'the'roll, whereby the tape is guided out of contact with, the roll as it passes from the aforesaidperipheral 1 portion to the bite of the rolls.

Signed by me at Lynn, of Aug, 1927, j a.

f JEROME P. BYRON.

described comd prising a pair of juxtaposed, rolls, means 12. A machine of the class described comprising a pair of juxtaposed rolls, means yieldably urging the rolls toward each other, 1

means for rotating therolls, asupport for a roll of adhesively coated tape, an idler memberpositioned to receive a run of tape from a roll of the same that is mounted upon the support, said support and idler memberfbeing so disposed in relation to the juxtaposed rolls as to direct the tape run into frictional portion of one ofthe rolls, this peripheral portion being remote from the bite ofthe rolls. j i

'13. A machine of the class described com- "engagement with a considerable peripheral prising a pair of juxtaposed rolls, meansyieldably urging the rolls toward each other, means for rotating the rolls, a support. for a roll of adhesively coated tape, an idler member positioned to receive a run of tape from a Mass, this 19th day i if 

